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Evansville Water and Sewer Utility reports findings from customer survey

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Feedback will inform and shape improvements to operations, customer service and communication

2014 Water Rates Comparison

2014 Sewer Rates Comparison

In February 2014, the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility (EWSU) administered an online survey to gather customer feedback on water and sewer service, gauge awareness about planned updates to improve the City’s water and sewer system, and identify opportunities to improve EWSU customer service and communication. The Utility collected 1,023 completed surveys. The sampling of participants was reflective of Evansville census data.

“The timing of this research study was important,” said Allen Mounts, director of EWSU. “In the early part of this year, we had the attention of the community and our customers for a variety of reasons.”

In January, new water rates went into effect, and sewer rates went up to help fund state and federally mandated operational improvements to comply with the Clean Water Act. That same month, the Utility worked vigilantly to maintain water quality as a chemical plume – from a spill upriver – passed along the Ohio River. Additionally during that time, severe winter weather conditions caused a record-breaking number of water main breaks and other disruptive issues to the system.

“Evansville Water and Sewer Utility customers had a lot to say this winter about their service, their rates and the way the Utility operates. The incredible participation in this survey exceeded our expectations. It’s clear our customers wanted to be heard,” Mounts said. “While feedback from customers was not all positive, it is incredibly valuable. We will use it to inform and shape operational and customer service improvements moving forward,” he added.

Summary of findings

Key findings are outlined below. For a more detailed summary of findings, visit http://www.evansville.in.gov/index.aspx?page=3237.

Overview:

  • ï‚·  1,023 completed surveys were collected Feb. 3 to 24, 2014.
  • ï‚·  50 customers supplied their contact information and requested personal follow-up fromthe Utility via phone or email. Follow-up contact has been conducted or attempted with those customers.

    Most favorable attributes:
    Customers expressed the most positive sentiments toward EWSU for:

  • ï‚·  Providing safe and reliable water services to customers.
  • ï‚·  Treating customers with courtesy and respect.Least favorable attributes:
    According to customers, EWSU fared least favorably for:
  • ï‚·  Being a financially sound organization.
  • ï‚·  Planning for the future growth and needs of Evansville.The federal mandate and Renew Evansville:
    The City of Evansville and EWSU are under a federal mandate to comply with the Clean Water Act of 1972, update the City’s aging sewer system and improve operations. It will be the largest capital improvement project in Evansville’s history. Renew Evansville is EWSU’s plan to address those needs.
  • ï‚·  61% of customers stated they had heard of the federal mandate, and feedback suggests customers have a good understanding of what the city must accomplish through the plan.
  • ï‚·  38% of customers cited having seen or heard something about Renew Evansville.
  • ï‚·  The community has a high expectation for completing the federally mandated projectsquickly, with only 14% of people understanding it will take more than 20 years to complete.

    Water and sewer rates:
    Although Evansville’s water and sewer rates are lower than many nearby Indiana cities, survey feedback suggests the majority of EWSU customers believe their rates are higher. (See graphics.)

  • ï‚·  54% expressed opinions that EWSU water rates are higher than other cities.
  • ï‚·  62% of respondents expressed opinions that EWSU sewer rates are higher than othercities.

    Paying bills:

ï‚· While customers indicated they pay their EWSU bills in a variety of ways, the majority

[54%] indicated they pay via mail.

ï‚· Those using some method of online payment or recurring payments had the most favorable opinions regarding options for paying their bills.

Communication with customers:

  • ï‚·  47% of customers indicated they prefer to receive information from EWSU on theirmonthly bill.
  • ï‚·  30% prefer receiving email communication from the Utility.Opportunities for potential services:
    Customers expressed interest in a variety of potential services that could be offered by EWSU, including:
  • ï‚·  Budget billing plan that evens out payments each month [33%].
  • ï‚·  Paperless billing [33%].
  • ï‚·  Monthly newsletters with tips for homeowners [33%].“There were no major surprises in the data,” Mounts said. “But the research very clearly affirmed areas the Utility is performing well in and where we can improve,” he added.

    Mounts said EWSU has already begun information-gathering on many of the services customers expressed interest in, including a more standard 8 1⁄2” x 11” customer bill, which would enable more opportunities to communicate with customers about their service, conservation tips and important updates. Additionally, EWSU is reviewing text messaging services and an app, which would provide a new means for communication with customers on mobile devices.

 

Mayor Winnecke Appoints Brent Schmitt as the new City Engineer

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Mayor Lloyd Winnecke is pleased to announce the appointment of Brent Schmitt, formerly an Indiana Department of Transportation engineer, to the position of City Engineer. Schmitt’s first day in his new position was Monday, “Brent has spent the past seven years serving the citizens of Indiana by providing quality infrastructure support and management to INDOT projects,” said Mayor Winnecke. “Through his experience, Brent will bring different perspectives and processes that will enable the City Engineering Department to broaden its ability to provide quality product and enhanced services to Evansville residents.”

Schmitt said he looks forward to the challenge of successfully completing local road projects currently underway. He said his past relationships with INDOT will allow him to feel comfortable addressing issues, if problems arise in the future. “I will be able to sit down with people I know on a first name basis to determine what’s in the best interest of the City of Evansville as well as the State of Indiana, and to reach an agreement that satisfies the needs of all users of our roadways,” Schmitt said.

Before joining the City of Evansville, Schmitt had moved up through the ranks at INDOT to become the District Testing Engineer at the Vincennes District office responsible for approval and oversight of material testing activities on all construction contracts in the Vincennes District, and guaranteeing standards and deadlines were achieved. Schmitt managed a staff of 20 engineers, technicians and administrative support employees; managed three laboratories testing materials; provided technical and engineering support to all departments at the Vincennes District office; and administered a $2 million annual department budget. Prior to that, Schmitt had served INDOT as a project engineer for Interstate-69 and a traffic investigations engineer.

An Evansville native, Schmitt is a 2002 graduate of Mater Dei High School. He attended Rose Hulman, where he played football, and later transferred to the University of Evansville, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2007. Schmitt is a Professional Engineer licensed and registered with the State of Indiana.

Sergeant Andy Clark Retires after 34 Years

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user29376-1398777670-media1_7d7d7d_191_240_PrsMe_Sergeant Andy Clark retires after serving 34 dedicated years of service to the Indiana State Police and to the communities in which he served.

Clark is a native of Alton, IL, and a 1974 graduate of Alton High School. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served as a military policeman from 1974 to 1980.

Clark graduated from the Indiana State Police Academy in July 1980 and was assigned to the Evansville District where he patrolled Gibson County until he was promoted to the rank of corporal in October 1984. Clark also became a crash reconstructionist in 1988 and qualified as an expert in court over 30 times during his career. In 1989, Clark was promoted to the rank of sergeant to serve as a pilot and flew over 10,000 hours conducting traffic patrols, searching for missing or wanted persons, taking aerial photos of crime scenes and searching for cultivated marijuana.

“Sergeant Clark was an asset to this department and his experience, work ethic and dedication will be greatly missed,” said Lieutenant Brian Bailey, Commander of the Evansville District.

Clark and his wife, Becky, have been married for over 32 years and reside in Gibson County. They have two children and one grandson.

Help Send A Child To Summer Camp

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Camp Reveal, the Rescue Mission’s campground/retreat center just north of Evansville, holds a lot of significance for thousands of folks who have grown up in the Tri-State. For now more than 87 years, kids have had the opportunity to take a break and spend some quality time at Camp Reveal.

Would you like to send a Tri-State child to the Rescue Mission’s Summer Camp program at Camp Reveal? There are two ways you can help out.

1) Sponsor a child through the Rescue Mission’s annual golf scramble. All of our scramble’s expenses are paid for, so all of the scramble’s proceeds will directly sent Tri-State children to Camp Reveal. Sponsorships begin at $100 .

2) Consider being a participant in the Rescue Mission’s 11th annual golf scramble, which will take place on Monday, May 12 at Rolling Hills Country Club in Newburgh, Indiana. It’s $500 to register a team of four and $125 to register individually. Please consider sharing this with family and friends who may want to participate.

To sponsor a child, to register a team of four for the Mission’s golf scramble or for more information, just give us a call at 812.421.3800 or visit our website, www.evansvillerescuemission.org.

CCO Endorses John Montrastelle

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montrastelleAfter much discussion and thought,  the CCO feels obligated to respectfully recommend to our readers that they give special consideration when they vote in the up coming May 6, 2014 Republican Primary in the Vanderburgh County Council race.

On May 6th, as we look to select candidates that will represent the citizens of Vanderburgh County we must realize the importance of exercising our right to vote and choose the candidate who best exemplifies the vision for our community.  For County Council – County Council 4th District we have two well qualified Republican candidates running; Pete Swaim and John Montrastelle.

Although Mr Swaim’s long commitment to serving our community  is extremely commendable and we have enormous respect for him, however  the City-County Observer feels is it is time for a change – a progressive change.  This is why we endorse John Montrastelle as your Republican representative for the County Council seat in the May 6, 2014 Republican primary.

John is a lifelong resident of Evansville with a great sense of pride about our community and the people who live here.  He also believes, very strongly, that we should operate government to be fully transparent and fiscally responsible at all times. He states, “Our ability to understand county programs, departments, budgets, along with sound policies and procedures regarding how we operate the functions of government, is essential to our success.”

John has proven he is forward thinking in his role as the President of the Board for the Evansville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.  With his leadership and guidance from his fellow commissioners they have transformed the ECVB into a strong and well founded organization. The ECVB developed new policies and procedures, comprehensive budgeting, special event policies, grant criteria guidelines and policies, new marketing initiatives for Evansville and most importantly a transparent organization. The most challenging effort during his tenure at the ECVB has been pushing for the of new sports complex that is currently approved for construction in late summer, using lodging tax versus local taxes as the funding source.  According to Monstrastelle this sports complex is projected to generate new revenues and serve as one of the finest quality of life projects ever built in our community, without costing a penny to the local taxpayers of Vanderburgh County and the City of Evansville according to Mr. Montrastelle.  We hope he is right with his projections about the new sports complex.

John’s father, Bill Montrastelle, was a close confidant to Mayor Russell Lloyd while he volunteered and worked tirelessly on numerous civic projects.  We feel John Montrastelle shares that same compassion for our community that his father did!   It’s obvious that the apple may not have fallen far from the family tree.

 

80 Percent of EVSC Third Graders Pass IREAD

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EVSC

 

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation had 1,445 of its 1,818 third grade students pass the IREAD-3 test earlier this year — a total of 80 percent. All third grade students in Indiana take the test, – which is required by Indiana House Enrolled Act 1367, in order to progress to fourth grade English/Language Arts curriculum.
Jackie Kuhn, EVSC director of language arts and literacy support, said nine schools in the EVSC increased their pass rates. Among those, Glenwood Leadership Academy saw the largest gains, with a 15.8 percent increase to 66.7 percent. Also increasing the pass rate by double digits was Fairlawn Elementary, with an 
11.2 percent increase to 86.8 percent.
Kuhn said she was pleased that a total of nine EVSC elementary schools also had pass rates higher than 85 percent and seven schools showed progress in reducing those who did not pass.
Velinda Stubbs, chief academic officer, said that the EVSC had an influx of students coming from other schools in the area in January. “A total of 33 students enrolled between January and March when the test was given – which is difficult because we have not had the opportunity to teach students for the entire eight months of school before IREAD. Any student who is listed as enrolled in the EVSC – whether they have been at one of our schools for one day, or at other non-school facilities the EVSC serves, count in the overall pass rate,” Stubbs said.
“Some students need additional time to master material,” she added. “Fortunately, we are able to offer a summer school program to help these students succeed.” The EVSC Summer Program offers 60 hours of free individualized tutoring, June 2-27 (at most locations), to students who did not pass the test. Students also work in small groups with a licensed teacher on reading skills and use technology and data to work toward the student’s reading goals. Free bus transportation routes have been established for each of the tutoring sites. An IREAD re-test will be administered the last week of June.
Last year following students’ intensive work in summer school with EVSC teachers, and including the good cause exemptions, the overall pass rate for the EVSC increased over 14 percent.

School
Pass
Caze
68.9%
Cedar Hall
68.3%
Cynthia Heights
87.3%
Daniel Wertz
76.6%
Delaware
66.2%
Dexter
82.3%
Evans
61.6%
Fairlawn
86.8%
Glenwood
66.7%
Harper
75.0%
Hebron
87.7%
Highland
85.4%
Lincoln
42.3%
Lodge
48.9%
Oak Hill
97.4%
Scott
96.2%
Stockwell
76.9%
Stringtown
79.5%
Tekoppel
82.2%
Vogel
85.6%
West Terrace
87.9%

PET OF THE WEEK

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Ace

Ace is a 2-year-old male miniature Pinscher mix! He’s shy at first, but once used to his surroundings he’s very affectionate! Ace likes kids, other dogs, and is successfully crate-trained. He also does well on car rides. Adoption fee is $120 and includes neuter, microchip, vaccines, and more! Please contact the Vanderburgh Humane Society at (812) 426-2563 or visit www.vhslifesaver.org.

Commentary: Affirmative action and America’s original sin

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By John Krull
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – The furor over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision days ago about affirmative action demonstrates several things.

The nation’s highest court, by a 6-2 count, upheld a Michigan law approved by the state’s voters in 2006 that says public colleges

John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
John Krull, publisher, TheStatehouseFile.com
and universities “shall not discriminate or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.”

Commentary button in JPG – no shadowIronies abounded in the decision.

In the majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy in effect said the Supreme Court lacked the authority to overrule a decision by a state’s voters – an interesting position for a member of a bench that routinely strikes down state laws and once even decided a presidential election.

And, in a vehement dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor contended not just that her fellow justices were blind on matters of race but that the Constitution doesn’t give a majority of voters the power to create roadblocks to progress for minorities – an intriguing position for a legal thinker who generally wants to empower voters.

The issue of race has been putting Americans in difficult – and often tragic – positions for centuries.

There is a reason that race has been called America’s original sin. The struggle to get right with our legacy of enslavement and discrimination that helped produce the greatest civil war in human history in the 19th century and a long and linked series of political and cultural battles in the 20th and 21st centuries that at times have threatened to tear the country apart.

Some wrongs take a long time and a lot of work to make right.

A century and a half ago, in his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln said of the Civil War and, by extension, the struggle to heal America’s deep racial wounds:

“Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said 3000 years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’”

In this instance, as in so many others, Old Abe sounds like a prophet.

Regardless of what the Supreme Court says, most intelligent and well-run schools and businesses will continue to practice affirmative action in the wisest and most legally defensible way – by doing aggressive outreach and recruiting to find the best and brightest talent.

They will do it not because the law tells them to, but because it makes good business sense. The economic need for savvier, better-trained labor now drives many of our most heated political battles, such as the pitched struggles over education reform and even the recent fight over marriage equality.

One of the reasons much of the Hoosier business community didn’t want discrimination written into the Indiana constitution was many business leaders feared House Joint Resolution 3 would chase skilled workers out of the state.

But just finding good students and workers won’t solve all the problems presented by discrimination. Affirmative action’s focus always has been on opening opportunity’s door. It doesn’t offer much protection once a member of a discriminated-against group has walked through that door.

There still are significant – and, in some cases, huge – wage gaps between what most women and minorities make and what most white men get paid for identical work.

That is why we as a nation are about to have a long and likely bitter battle over fair wages.

The fact that U.S. Supreme Court justices twisted themselves into sometimes angry and often contradictory knots in their decision regarding affirmative action just shows how thorny the work of resolving this nation’s tragic history of discriminatory practice has been and will continue to be.

America’s original sin, indeed.

John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism, host of “No Limits” WFYI 90.1 Indianapolis and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Eighth annual Drug Take Back Event a success

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By Antonio Corderotimthumb.php-17
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—More than 600 pounds of unwanted and unused drugs were collected Saturday during the eighth annual “Drug Take Back Event.” The event was sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) and the Indiana Board of Pharmacy.pills – stock

“The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and the Board of Pharmacy are committed to finding ways to improve Hoosiers’ health,” said Nicholas W. Rhoad, Executive Director of the IPLA. “We were proud to partner with local law enforcement officials and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to help rid homes of potentially dangerous unused medicines and potential items for theft,” he said.

The organizations sponsored drop off sites locations in Noblesville, Greenwood, Peru, Gary, Evansville and Decatur.

Since the DEA’s first Drug Take Back Event in September of 2010, more than 3.4 million pounds of pills have been turned in

Antonio Cordero is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

Majority reverses teen’s underage drinking adjudication

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by Jennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com   indianalawyer

The Indiana Court of Appeals wanted to make a point “loud and clear” Tuesday: Suspicion of criminal activity is not an exception to the warrant requirement. The majority reversed a teen’s adjudication as a delinquent based on acts of illegal possession of alcohol, illegal consumption of alcohol, and aiding illegal consumption of alcohol.

Police received reports of teens riding around in a shopping cart at 1 a.m. being loud and causing dogs to bark. Police saw a shopping cart in a truck parked in front of J.K.’s house. The truck belonged to T.T. Believing the cart to be stolen, the officers called for a tow truck. While waiting for the truck, officers went around the house to make sure no one would flee. Inside, officers saw empty alcohol containers. Police knocked on the front door for nearly an hour until T.T. came out. He only came out because he saw the tow truck. J.K. also came outside at that point; both appeared intoxicated. The officers then went inside and did a sweep of the house and found additional evidence of underage drinking.

J.K. argued that evidence was admitted at his fact-finding hearing in violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The COA addressed three warrantless entries: entry onto J.K.’s curtilage by two officers; the nearly hour-long span during which the officers remained on J.K.’s front porch and yard, knocking and yelling into the house; and the officers’ entry into J.K.’s residence.

The state argued the officers’ warrantless entries onto J.K.’s curtilage and into his home were justified by exigent circumstances – to make sure suspects didn’t flee. But the officers didn’t see anyone fleeing from the back of the house. As such, the evidence obtained as a result of the violation – the sight of empty alcohol containers – and any suspicion resulting from that evidence is tainted and subject to the exclusionary rule, Judge Margret Robb wrote for the majority.

The knock-and-talk was an unconstitutional search in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The officers’ actions in this case extended well beyond the implied invitation to approach a citizen’s front door, the majority held. The officers had no reason to believe someone inside was injured or in danger. Underage drinking is not a circumstance that as a general matter creates a threat of imminent injury. The majority also rejected the state’s claim the officers’ conduct was justified because they believed the shopping cart in the truck was stolen.

“There is no doubt that the officers’ conduct in this case went far beyond anything that would ordinarily be expected to occur on one’s doorstep. If three men with guns and flashlights were to surround the average person’s home in the wee hours of the morning, knock for over forty-five minutes, and yell inside demanding the occupants open the door, this situation would … inspire that homeowner to call the police,” Robb wrote in J.K. v. State of Indiana, 66A03-1306-JS-220.

Senior Judge Randall T. Shepard dissented, believing it was reasonable for the officers to wait for the tow truck to arrive. He also found it reasonable for the officers to arrest J.K. and T.T. once they stepped outside and appeared to be under the influence.

“The trial judge concluded that the officers, having seen T.T. and J.K. in this state, were warranted in entering the home to assure the safety of the other occupants. It seemed highly likely there were other occupants in light of the large number of cars parked out front, and we read almost daily about the sad consequences of teenage drinking parties,” he wrote.

 

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